Hand and wrist unit

What we do

Based at Chelsea and Westminster, we are a consultant-led unit with a patient-centred and multi-disciplinary approach to helping people manage their hand and wrist problems. We work closely with many other teams including Radiology, A&E, Neurology and Rheumatology, and our Hand Trauma Coordinators work throughout the hospital to ensure that patients have a seamless journey from point of referral, through to diagnosis and treatment.

We run a variety of elective and trauma clinics for both adults and children. Our trauma clinic is available seven days a week and additionally we offer specialist hand therapist and hand practitioner clinics. We see injuries from superficial cuts to damaged tendons and nerves.

Less complicated problems can often be treated in the clinic, but for more complex cases we will book in patients for an operation in our Hand Management Unit. These are mainly managed as day case patients, with more complicated procedures undertaken in one of our operating theatres.

We have a strong emphasis on training and research within the department and offer two annual fellowships. We also receive visiting surgeons from overseas and other UK hospitals for educational purposes.

Our team

Our nine consultants lead the service and include specialists in adult and paediatric hand and wrist surgery as well as plastic surgery, they are: Mr Giles Bantick, Miss Alice Bremner-Smith, Mr Rupert Eckersley, Mr Tim Halsey, Mr Max Horwitz, Miss Effie Katsarma, Mr Gordon McArthur, Miss Kate Owers and Miss Gill Smith. The unit is also supported by a team of plastic dressing nurses, led by Clinical Nurse Specialist Kim Patrick.